Medical plane crashes in New Mexico, killing four on board

A small medical plane crashed in south-central New Mexico early Thursday morning, killing all four people on board, according to local officials. The Federal Aviation Administration told WORLD on Thursday that the Beechcraft King Air 90 crashed near Ruidoso, N.M., around 4 a.m. local time.

The aircraft left Roswell, N.M., and flew west for Sierra Blanca Regional Airport before it dropped off the radar and all communication with airport officials ceased, according to a memo from Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns. Emergency services were notified of the missing aircraft, as well as additional reports of a fire in the Capitan Mountain area, according to the memo.

First responders located the aircraft and found all four occupants dead at the scene. The victims’ identities will remain private until families are notified. Burns added that the U.S. Forest Service was working to quell the fire, which had spread less than five acres.

What caused the plane to crash? The cause of the crash remained under investigation,according to Lincoln County. The National Transportation Safety Board planned to open an investigation into the crash, a spokesperson told WORLD on Thursday.